The most successful people in business work differently. See what they do--and why it works.

I'm fortunate to know a number of remarkably successful people. I've described how these people share a set of specific perspectives andbeliefs.

They also share a number of habits:

1. They don't create back-up plans.

Back-upplans can help you sleep easier at night. Back-up plans can also create an easyout when times get tough.

You'll work a lot harder and a lot longer if your primary plan simply has to work becausethere is no other option. Total commitment--without a safety net--will spur youto work harder than you ever imagined possible.

If somehow the worst does happen (and the "worst" is never as bad as you think)trust that you will find a way to rebound. As long as you keep working hard andkeep learning from your mistakes, you always will.

2. They do the work...

You can be good with a little effort. You can be really good with a little more effort.

But you can't be great--at anything--unless you put in an incredible amount of focusedeffort.

Scratch the surface of any person with rare skills and you'll find a person who has putthousands of hours of effort into developing those skills.

There are no shortcuts. There are no overnight successes. Everyone has heard about the10,000 hours principle but no one follows it... except remarkably successfulpeople.

So start doing the work now. Time is wasting.

3. ...and they work a lot more.

Forget the Sheryl Sandberg "I leave every day at 5:30" stories. I'm sure she does. But she'snot you.

Every extremely successful entrepreneur I know (personally) works more hours than theaverage person--a lot more. They have long lists of things they want to getdone. So they have to put in lots of time.

Better yet,they want to put in lots of time.

If you don't embrace a workload others would consider crazy then your goal doesn't mean thatmuch to you--or it's not particularly difficult to achieve. Either way youwon't be remarkably successful.

4. They avoid the crowds.

Conventional wisdom yields conventional results. Joining the crowd--no matter how trendy thecrowd or "hot" the opportunity--is a recipe for mediocrity.

Remarkably successful people habitually do what other people won't do. They go whereothers won't go because there's a lot less competition and a much greaterchance for success.

5. They start at the end...

Average success is often based on setting average goals.

Decide what you really want: to be the best, the fastest, the cheapest, the biggest,whatever. Aim for the ultimate. Decide where you want to end up. That isyour goal.

Then you can work backwards and lay out every step along the way.

Never start small where goals are concerned. You'll make better decisions--and find it mucheasier to work a lot harder--when your ultimate goal is ultimate success.

6. ... and they don't stop there.

Achieving a goal--no matter how huge--isn't the finish line for highly successful people.Achieving one huge goal just creates a launching pad for achieving another hugegoal.

Maybe you want to create a $100 million business; once you do you can leverage yourcontacts and influence to create a charitable foundation for a cause youbelieve in. Then your business and humanitarian success can create a platformfor speaking, writing, and thought leadership. Then...

The process of becoming remarkably successful in one field will give you the skills andnetwork to be remarkably successful in many other fields.

Remarkably successful people don't try to win just one race. They expect and plan to win anumber of subsequent races.

7. They sell.

I once asked a number of business owners and CEOs to name the one skill they feltcontributed the most to their success. Each said the ability to sell.

Keep in mind selling isn't manipulating, pressuring, or cajoling. Selling is explaining thelogic and benefits of a decision or position. Selling is convincing otherpeople to work with you. Selling is overcoming objections and roadblocks.

Selling is the foundation of business and personal success: knowing how to negotiate, todeal with "no," to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face ofrejection, to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, to buildlong-term relationships...

When you truly believe in your idea, or your company, or yourself then you don't need tohave a huge ego or a huge personality. You don't need to "sell."

You just need to communicate.

8. They are never too proud.

To admit they made a mistake. To say they are sorry. To have big dreams. To admit theyowe their success to others. To poke fun at themselves. To ask for help.

To fail.

And to tryagain.